Managing data transmissions over a network connection

Abstract

In various example embodiments, a system and method for managing media bandwidth usage are disclosed. One disclosed method includes determining a network connection state of a computing device, receiving a request that requests media content, altering the request to request a synthetic representation of the media content instead of the media content in response to the network connection state being one of a set of predefined network connection states and the media content violating one or more restrictions of the network connection state, and requesting the media content in response to a user selecting the synthetic representation.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system comprising:
 one or more processors; and 
 memory including instructions that, upon execution by the one or more processors, cause the system to perform operations comprising: 
 receiving, via a network from a computing device, download preferences from a user of the computing device; 
 determining, based on the download preferences, which of one or more of a plurality of network connection state restrictions to apply to requests from the user, wherein:
 at least a first one of the network connection state restrictions is based at least in part on an amount of data to be provided in response to a request from the computing device, and 
 at least a second one of the network connection state restrictions disallows specified media types from being provided in response to the request from the computing device; 
 
 receiving, via the network from the computing device, a request to retrieve an image in a first resolution for the computing device; 
 determining that communicating the requested image in the first resolution violates at least one of the one or more network connection state restrictions for a network connection with the computing device; 
 based on the requested image in the first resolution violating the at least one of the one or more network connection state restriction, determining to alter the request by requesting the image in a second resolution that is lower than the first resolution; 
 retrieving the image in the second resolution based on an altered request; and 
 causing presentation of the image in the second resolution at the computing device. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to cause the system to perform operations comprising:
 generating the altered request by altering the request to retrieve the image in the second resolution that is lower than the first resolution. 
 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to cause the system to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a second request to retrieve the image in a third resolution that is higher than the second resolution and lower that the first resolution; 
 retrieving the image in the third resolution; and 
 causing presentation of the image in the third resolution at the computing device. 
 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to cause the system to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, from the computing device and in response to causing presentation of the image in the second resolution at the computing device, a second request to retrieve the image in the first resolution; 
 retrieving the image in the first resolution; and 
 causing presentation of the image in the first resolution at the computing device. 
 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to cause the system to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a download request for the image subsequent to causing presentation of the image in the second resolution at the computing device; and 
 communicating, to the computing device via the network connection, the image in the first resolution. 
 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions causing presentation of the image in the second resolution at the computing device are further executable by the one or more processors to cause the system to perform operations comprising:
 causing the computing device to display a search result comprising the image in the second resolution at the computing device. 
 
     
     
       7. A computer-implemented method comprising:
 receiving, via a network from a computing device, download preferences from a user of the computing device; 
 determining, based on the download preferences, which of one or more of a plurality of network connection state restrictions to apply to requests from the user, wherein:
 at least a first one of the network connection state restrictions is based at least in part on an amount of data to be provided in response to a request from the computing device, and 
 at least a second one of the network connection state restrictions disallows specified media types from being provided in response to the request from the computing device; 
 
 receiving, via the network from the computing device, a request to retrieve an image in a first resolution for the computing device; 
 determining, by one or more processors, that communicating the requested image in the first resolution violates at least one of the one or more network connection state restrictions for a network connection with the computing device; 
 based on the requested image in the first resolution violating the at least one of the one or more network connection state restriction, determining to alter the request by requesting the image in a second resolution that is lower than the first resolution; 
 retrieving the image in the second resolution based on an altered request; and 
 causing presentation of the image in the second resolution at the computing device. 
 
     
     
       8. The computer-implemented method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 generating the altered request by altering the request to retrieve the image in the second resolution that is lower than the first resolution. 
 
     
     
       9. The computer-implemented method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 receiving a second request to retrieve the image in a third resolution that is higher than the second resolution and lower that the first resolution; 
 retrieving, by the one or more processors, the image in the third resolution; and 
 causing presentation of the image in the third resolution at the computing device. 
 
     
     
       10. The computer-implemented method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 receiving, from the computing device and in response to causing presentation of the image in the second resolution at the computing device, a second request to retrieve the image in the first resolution; 
 retrieving, by the one or more processors, the image in the first resolution; and 
 causing presentation of the image in the first resolution at the computing device. 
 
     
     
       11. The computer-implemented method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 receiving a download request for the image subsequent to causing presentation of the image in the second resolution at the computing device; and 
 communicating, to the computing device via the network connection, the image in the first resolution. 
 
     
     
       12. The computer-implemented method of  claim 7 , wherein causing presentation of the image in the second resolution at the computing device comprises:
 causing the computing device to display a search result comprising the image in the second resolution at the computing device. 
 
     
     
       13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code comprising instructions executable by one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, via a network from a computing device, download preferences from a user of the computing device; 
 determining, based on the download preferences, which of one or more of a plurality of network connection state restrictions to apply to requests from the user, wherein:
 at least a first one of the network connection state restrictions is based at least in part on an amount of data to be provided in response to a request from the computing device, and 
 at least a second one of the network connection state restrictions disallows specified media types from being provided in response to the request from the computing device; 
 
 receiving, via the network from the computing device, a request to retrieve an image in a first resolution for the computing device; 
 determining that communicating the requested image in the first resolution violates at least one of the one or more network connection state restrictions for a network connection with the computing device; 
 based on the requested image in the first resolution violating the at least one of the one or more network connection state restriction, determining to alter the request by requesting the image in a second resolution that is lower than the first resolution; 
 retrieving the image in the second resolution based on an altered request; and 
 causing presentation of the image in the second resolution at the computing device. 
 
     
     
       14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 generating the altered request by altering the request to retrieve the image in the second resolution that is lower than the first resolution. 
 
     
     
       15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a second request to retrieve the image in a third resolution that is higher than the second resolution and lower that the first resolution; 
 retrieving, by the one or more processors, the image in the third resolution; and 
 causing presentation of the image in the third resolution at the computing device. 
 
     
     
       16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, from the computing device and in response to causing presentation of the image in the second resolution at the computing device, a second request to retrieve the image in the first resolution; 
 retrieving, by the one or more processors, the image in the first resolution; and 
 causing presentation of the image in the first resolution at the computing device. 
 
     
     
       17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to perform operations comprising
 receiving a download request for the image subsequent to causing presentation of the image in the second resolution at the computing device; and 
 communicating, to the computing device via the network connection, the image in the first resolution. 
 
     
     
       18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein causing presentation of the image in the second resolution at the computing device comprises:
 causing the computing device to display a search result comprising the image in the second resolution at the computing device.